Car vandalized in Portland with 'Trump' carved into dashboard

PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — A woman in Portland says someone sent her a political message, by vandalizing her car.

Megan Dyke had a "#NeverTrump" bumper sticker on the back of her car that was recently ripped off and crushed onto her driveway.

Her car has scratches along the side, both the front and rear seats were sliced open and "Trump" was carved into the dashboard.

"It's shocking," Dyke said. "It's a really scary feeling that it's come to this point in our country being divided after this election."

She discovered the damage Sunday and filed a police report. Portland Police Chief Michael Sauschuck said he's heard of cultural fears within the city but has not seen a pattern of political or hate crimes.

"I have had people come forward saying their cars have been keyed, they've had stickers scratched off or ripped off," Dyke said. "I heard a story of someone with a transgender pride sticker being run off the road in Cumberland and harassed; people being beeped at and flipped off and cussed at in traffic with their children in the car because of their political stances on their car. It's scary. It's scary that it's happening here."

"I think what this speaks to is that there are members of the population who felt this way before and feel emboldened now," USM political science professor Ronald Schmidt said. "That's not going to go anywhere."

Dyke, who admits she's been outspoken about her beliefs, will not be replacing the bumper sticker.

"I don't want fear to rule my life," she said. "I don't want to change how I express myself and my opinions, but it's scary. I don't want to feel like my personal safety is at risk either."